Re: Accents
| From: | John Cowan <jcowan@...> |
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| Date: | Tuesday, January 8, 2002, 17:51 |
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Stephen Mulraney wrote:
> BTW, why do Americans call # ('hash', 'octothorp') the 'pound symbol' ??
Because it used to be written *following* a number on bags full of
stuff to indicate their weight in pounds, thus: 20# = 20 pounds
weight.
(One pound = 2.2 kg, for the maior et sanior part of the word.)
--
Not to perambulate || John Cowan <jcowan@...>
the corridors || http://www.reutershealth.com
during the hours of repose || http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
in the boots of ascension. \\ Sign in Austrian ski-resort hotel
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